Over at Men's Journal Nicholas Dawidoff's new book, Collision Low Crossers: A Year Inside the Turbulent World of NFL Football: Some people question why football coaches put in such hours, but a game plan is their creative work. Coaches say that even on the best professional teams, only 10 percent of the time do all 11 players perform their roles as scripted. But you always aimed for better. Besides, the mere idea of free time is for them anathema – they feared not working, because working all the time was the only salve for the anxiety-driven nature of the job. In August, with Hurricane Irene bearing down on New York, a Jets preseason game against the Giants had been postponed. The coaches and players were told that they should stay home, and that their practice facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, would be locked and all entry pass codes deactivated. Some of the offensive coaches began plotting to go straight to Florham Park ahead of the storm and stay there, locked in through the hurricane, bedding down under their desks. "All right, men, Patriot week," Schotty began at the Wednesday-morning quarterbacks meeting. He said he would first show them some film before detailing his game plan for New England because "[you] gotta learn to swim before you go into deep water." "What about swimmies?" asked Mark Sanchez. The man was loose. At times, so was his play. Upon taking the Jets job two years earlier, Ryan had no viable starting quarterback, and to his eyes, Sanchez was the best one available. The Jets dealt three players and two draft choices to the Browns in exchange for the fifth choice in the 2009 draft, and Sanchez arrived in New Jersey to sign the most lucrative contract in franchise history. The Jets quickly made Sanchez their starter, and in his first two seasons he led them to the AFC championship game – or perhaps they led him. In Sanchez's young career, the Jets had carefully protected "the Sanchise," emphasizing his virtues, limiting his playbook, minimizing his job competition, posting a media-relations staffer by his locker whenever he gave interviews. While he flashed the potential of someday becoming the polished, dynamic professional Ryan foresaw, he was still erratic, and so mostly he was a restricted element in a conservative run-first offense stocked with able veterans who gradually, over the course of the game, wore down the opposing defense. That the Jets still had no clear idea how good a quarterback Sanchez would become was nothing surprising; it pointed again to the difficulty in predicting the futures of football players and was part of the game's mystery. ss
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Robert Lewandowski s scoring streak ended and Benjamin Pavard was sent off, but Bayern Munich still cruised to a 3-1 victory over Greuther Furth in the Bundesliga.
In a Bavarian derby battle between top and bottom on Friday, Bayern were in control at half-time following goals from Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich at Sportpark Ronhof.
There was hope for Furth when France full-back Pavard was shown a straight red card early in the second half for a professional foul on Jeremy Dudziak.
The champions remained a class apart from their newly-promoted opponents despite Pavard s dismissal and a Sebastian Griesbeck own goal increased their advantage, with a late Cedric Itten header no more than a consolation for the home side.
Lewandowski was unable to match Ger…
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Christophe Galtier said his players held a feeling of frustration after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica in the Champions League.
Lionel Messi became the first player to score against 40 different sides in the Champions League with a superb 22nd-minute strike, but a Danilo Pereira own goal ensured the teams went into half-time level.
Despite the French champions having the better chances in the second half, they failed to find a winner as they took just a point back to Paris, though they remain top of Group H on goals scored.
PSG have now won just once in their last seven away Champions League matches and are without a clean sheet in their last 11 games in the competition, and Galtier told RMC Sport: There is a feeling of fru…
Ten-man Real Madrid scored in a record 30th consecutive UEFA Champions League game as they beat Galatasaray 4-1 to qualify for the last 16.
Carlo Ancelotti s side shrugged off the first-half dismissal of Sergio Ramos, the 17th red card of his Real career, with goals from Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel di Maria and Isco eclipsing Umut Bulut s strike.
Ramos match was ended for a foul on Bulut after just 26 minutes, although the Turkey international appeared to make the most of minimal contact when he was through on goal.
Bale rifled in a long-range free-kick eight minutes before the interval, only for Bulut to level almost immediately.
However, Arbeloa provided a collector s item of a goal in the second half, finding the net for the first time since November 20…
Former German champions Wolfsburg have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian playmaker Diego from Juventus, the Bild newspaper claimed in its Saturday edition.
Wolfsburg finalised negotiations with Diego s father who is also the player s agent.
Djair da Cunha wanted an annual salary for his son of eight million euros over three years while Wolfsburg general manager Dieter Hoeness has proposed six million a year over four years.
Now it remains for a transfer fee to be agreed with Juventus demanding 19 million euros while Wolfsburg offer 17 million.
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Wolfsbur…
Paco Alcacer is desperate to seize his opportunity for Spain when they travel to face Ukraine in their final Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday.
The Valencia striker scored twice in a 4-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday, a result which guaranteed the European champions place in France next year, but both David Silva and Alvaro Morata were forced off with ankle and leg injuries respectively.
With Diego Costa having been left out of the latest squad, Alcacer is now determined to make the most of his playing time in Vicente del Bosque s side as he looks to build some consistency at international level.
We re happy to reach the finals, but that s tempered by the first-half injuries. Hopefully they can be with the group soon, he said after the match.
Obviously fo…
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany insisted there is no rift between himself and manager Manuel Pellegrini after returning to the starting XI to help the Premier League leaders to a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester United.
Kompany started City s previous two matches on the bench having gone against Pellegrini s wishes to play in Belgium s Euro 2012 qualifier against Israel – his first action after missing five club matches with a calf injury.
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Everyone knows how much this game means to me, Kompany told Sky Sports. I was disappointed to be left out of the team but it is all about o…
Market: Portugal win
Odds:
Already booking their spot in the final four of this years UEFA Nations League, Portugal will look to continue their unbeaten run when they host the already relegated Poland on Tuesday.
Starting with the hosts, although Portugal s World Cup run may have come to an end at the last 16 stage, Fernando Santos side have enjoyed an impressive post-Russia run. Picking up a point and their spot as group winners thanks to their 0-0 draw with Italy over the weekend, the 2016 European champions are now unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions, they have also managed to do this without Cristiano Ronaldo. Putting three past Poland in the reverse fixture last month, we re backing Portugal to end their campaign with yet another vi…
Arsene Wenger says the best approach for Arsenal is to pay no attention to the Premier League table as his players prepare for what he expects to be a physically testing clash against West Brom.
The Gunners are level on points with leaders Manchester City ahead of Saturday s trip to The Hawthorns, where they face Tony Pulis 13th-placed side, who have lost their last two matches to Leicester City and Manchester United.
Arsenal go into the game with an impressive away record having picked up 31 points from a possible 36 in their last 12 Premier League contests on the road.
But Wenger is certain a difficult challenge awaits and warned his team to forget the form guide and ensure they do not make any key mistakes.
I watched West Brom against Manchester Unite…
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Two sides who are seeking a much-needed boost this weekend, Coritiba will welcome Santos to the Couto Pereira on Saturday night.
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Antonio Conte declared himself proud of Tottenham s development after they closed in on the Premier League summit by beating Everton 2-0 on Saturday.
The Toffees turned in a stubborn first-half display in Conte s 50th match in charge of Spurs, who were fortunate not to fall behind when Amadou Onana and Demarai Gray squandered glorious chances.
However, Tottenham ultimately came good after the break. An injury to former Everton talisman Richarlison led to Yves Bissouma s introduction, and Spurs change in shape overwhelmed Everton.
Jordan Pickford s blunder gifted Harry Kane a penalty to break the deadlock, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rounding off the win late on.
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